Getting into tree care

[Lukacs Property Maintenance]

hey guys, Just wanted to add an importent tip. Learned the hard way myself. ALWAYS, i repeat ALWAYS secure your ladder to someting, weather your in a tree or your up on a roof cleaning out gutters, which is what i was doing, because the ladder can seem to be stable but someone (punk kids) can remove the ladder as a not so funny joke. Or the wind can blow the ladder over. Then you have to figure out how to get down off a two story house roof. Mike

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

What should you do to secure a ladder to a house?

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[Little's]

Originally Posted by Steve

What should you do to secure a ladder to a house?

I am not sure the correct way to secure a ladder to the house. Can it be done? I secure my ladder to tree (when I use it, not very often) with safety lanyards.

[Lukacs Property Maintenance]

When im up on the roof i don't want to loose the only way down. I have used a rubber bungy strap to secure the ladder the the edge of the roof and or to the gutter it self. I think a good strong rope would do the same thing.

Mike

[Dzielak51]

How do you estimate jobs?

[Steve]

There is a post in the lawnchat.com blog that might help or others could join in here to if they want.

http://lawnchat.com/?p=214

[Little's]

Hey everyone. I wanted to post a link to a thread I started a little while back at an Arborist forum. It has some pictures of a job I did and some information about the reason for me posting it. I was asking for some 3rd party help on the value of a job I did. There was some debate AFTER the job was finished. It is quite interesting what different people around the USA will price a job at.

Take a look, and read all of the responses. Its worth your time.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=70198

[Steve]

The initial job was quoted at $600? What would you have quoted it at now with all you know after that discussion?

[Little's]

Originally Posted by Steve

The initial job was quoted at $600? What would you have quoted it at now with all you know after that discussion?

$600. And I didnt quote the job, but I was told to just do it and send them the bill. You see, I wasn't questioning what the job was worth for my peace of mind, I was using the thread and all the price quotes for defense. I used the responses I received and printed them out and sent them to the home owner to show that the price I charged (the property management co.) was more than good (which I new going into it). I was giving the great, cheap price to the P.M.C. because they are so faithful in sending me work. It was kind of a thank-you-price.

See, I knew the price was great, thats why I was astonished when the owner freaked out about the cost. Then I realized that it wasnt the price, it was the guy. He is the type of guy that would argue and have a problem if I had charged him a $100. The type of guy who who has to try to save $5 just to feel like he pulled a fast one on you.

Well once the P.M.C. saw the work I did, they were behind me 100%, they just had to explain it to the owner, that the price was more than fair.

It all worked out ok, and I still do a lot of work for the P.M.C.

[LawnMoore]

How long did this job take you?

Do you have an hourly rate per dead and hazardous trees?

Do you have an hourly rate per live and out in the open trees?


E/ i see you posted this info in the thread, took you 6 hours for 600 dollars so you gross 100 an hour on that job. Not bad, i just hope you atleast made 400 NET on that job, you need to get payed very well for this line of work!!

I average 50-200 an hour sometimes more